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Medicare Advantage Plans Pennsylvania 2027

Reviewed by Russell Noga, Licensed Medicare Insurance Broker (all 50 states) — Last updated October 8, 2026

Pennsylvania Medicare Advantage choices for 2027 include Highmark, UPMC for Life, Geisinger Gold and national insurers. UPMC adds a new HMO Preferred Rx plan while discontinuing some others.

Check which hospital system your doctors use before choosing. PA MEDI offers free counseling.

✔ Licensed in all 50 states
✔ Based on CMS 2027 data
✔ Free plan comparison

Key Highlights

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Highmark, UPMC, Geisinger.

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UPMC adds HMO Preferred Rx.

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Check hospital systems.

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The national average 2027 Medicare Advantage premium is $12 a month, down from $14.37 (CMS).

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Annual Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, 2026.

Compare plans and enroll online

Medicare Options in Pennsylvania

Key Takeaway

Your county decides which Medicare Advantage plans you can choose. Medigap and Part D plans are available statewide.

Feature HMO PPO
Out-of-network care Not covered except emergencies and urgent care Covered at a higher cost
Referrals for specialists Usually required Usually not required
Premiums Usually lower Usually higher
Out-of-pocket maximum In-network limit In-network limit plus a higher combined limit
Best for Lower costs, local care Flexibility, travel, keeping specific doctors

Benefits Pennsylvania Plans May Offer

Pennsylvania Plans May Include

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Hospital and medical coverage, the same as Original Medicare Part A and B

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Part D prescription drug coverage on most plans

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Routine dental, vision and hearing benefits

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Fitness programs and over-the-counter allowances

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Telehealth visits and care coordination programs

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A yearly out-of-pocket maximum on every plan

Not all plans offer all benefits. Benefits vary by plan and county and can change for 2027. Check each plan’s Evidence of Coverage before you enroll.

How Medicare Advantage Works in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Changes for 2027

Across the country, big carriers are cutting back on PPOs and leaving certain counties for 2027. Pennsylvania members should review their Annual Notice of Change, and anyone who got a non-renewal letter needs to pick a replacement plan by December 31, 2026.

Insurer Key 2027 Changes
UnitedHealthcare 852 plans (up from 846); standard plans pulled from about 140 counties; leaving Wyoming; 34 PPOs cut
Humana 861 plans (down from 887); leaving 57 counties and Minnesota; 37 PPOs cut; about 600,000 members’ plans ending
Aetna (CVS Health) 654 plans (up from 642); standard plans pulled from 123 counties; leaving Maryland and New Hampshire; 20 PPOs cut; 29 C-SNPs added
HCSC (including HealthSpring) From 948 counties to about 478; leaving CT, KS, MT, NY, OR, UT and D.C.; 48 PPOs cut
Centene (Wellcare) Standard plans pulled from 344 counties; leaving Hawaii, Oklahoma and Tennessee
Elevance (Anthem) Standard plans pulled from 56 counties; leaving South Carolina
Devoted Health Adding 342 counties; entering CT, MI, NH, NJ and NY

Source: CMS 2027 landscape data as reported by Becker’s, October 1, 2026, and company announcements. Wellmark, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi are also exiting Medicare Advantage for 2027.

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Pennsylvania 2027

Insurer 2027 Note
Highmark No verified exit
UPMC for Life New HMO Preferred Rx; some plans discontinued
Geisinger Gold No verified change

Medicare Advantage in Pennsylvania

Medicare Advantage, also called Part C, is a way to get your Medicare benefits through a private insurance company approved by Medicare. The plan covers everything Original Medicare Part A and Part B cover, except hospice care, which Original Medicare still pays. Most plans also include Part D drug coverage, and many may add extras such as routine dental, vision and hearing benefits.

In exchange, Medicare Advantage plans generally use networks of doctors and hospitals, and may require referrals or prior authorization for some services. Every Medicare Advantage plan has a yearly out-of-pocket maximum for covered medical care, which Original Medicare does not have. You keep paying your Part B premium, plus your plan’s premium if it has one.

Advantages

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Often a low or $0 premium

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A yearly out-of-pocket maximum

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Drug coverage usually included

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Many plans may include dental, vision and hearing benefits

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One card and one plan

Tradeoffs

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Networks; HMOs require in-network care except emergencies

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Prior authorization and referrals are common

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Copays add up if you use a lot of care

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Plans and networks can change every year

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Switching to Medigap later may require health questions

Healthcare Coverage beyond Original Medicare

Medicare Supplement Plans in Pennsylvania

If you prefer Original Medicare, a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan pays some or all of what Medicare leaves behind, and lets you see any provider in the U.S. that accepts Medicare. Benefits are standardized by plan letter, so compare prices for the same letter across insurers.

Plan What You Pay Best For
Plan G The Part B deductible; after that, Medicare-approved costs are covered Most complete coverage for new enrollees
Plan N Part B deductible, copays up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for some ER visits, and Part B excess charges Lower premium, accepts small copays
High-Deductible Plan G A yearly deductible, then coverage like Plan G Healthy people who want the lowest premium

Medigap benefits are standardized by plan letter. Prices vary by insurer, age, ZIP code and tobacco use.

Watch for: outside your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period or a guaranteed issue right, most states let insurers ask health questions and decline you or charge more.

Part D Drug Plans in Pennsylvania

$700

Maximum 2027 Part D deductible, up from $615.

$2,400

2027 Part D out-of-pocket cap, up from $2,100.

About $36

Average 2027 standalone Part D premium, up less than $1 (CMS).

$7

Projected average drug portion of a Medicare Advantage premium for 2027, down from $11.32.

Sticking with Original Medicare in Pennsylvania means you’ll want a stand-alone Part D plan alongside it. Use the 2027 Part D plan finder to line up plans against the exact drugs you take and the pharmacies you use.

If Your Plan Is Ending

If your plan will not be offered in your county for 2027, you should have received a non-renewal notice in early October. Your coverage does not stop right away: it continues through December 31, 2026, so you have time to choose.

If Your Plan Is Ending

1

Read the non-renewal letter. It confirms your plan is ending and explains your options.

2

List your doctors and drugs. You will need them to compare replacement plans.

3

Compare plans for 2027. Check networks, drug coverage and the out-of-pocket maximum, not just the premium.

4

Choose by December 31 for no gap. Enrolling during Annual Enrollment by December 7 gives you coverage on January 1, 2027.

5

Use your Special Enrollment Period if needed. People whose plans end generally can still make a choice through the end of February 2027.

If you do nothing: you return to Original Medicare on January 1, 2027, without drug coverage unless you choose a Part D plan. Going without drug coverage can lead to a late enrollment penalty.

Medigap rights: when your Medicare Advantage plan leaves your area, you generally have a guaranteed issue right to buy certain Medicare Supplement plans without health questions, up to 63 days after your coverage ends.

How to Compare Pennsylvania Plans for 2027

How to Compare

1

Read your Annual Notice of Change. It lists every change to your current plan for 2027.

2

Check your doctors and hospitals. Confirm each provider is in the 2027 network, not just the 2026 one.

3

Check your prescriptions. Confirm each drug, its tier and any prior authorization or step therapy rules.

4

Compare total yearly cost. Add the premium, typical copays and drug costs, and look at the out-of-pocket maximum.

5

Check star ratings. Medicare rates plans from 1 to 5 stars on quality and service.

6

Enroll by December 7. Your new coverage starts January 1, 2027.

2027 Enrollment Dates

Enrollment Period Dates What You Can Do
Annual Enrollment Period October 15 to December 7, 2026 Join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan for January 1, 2027
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment January 1 to March 31, 2027 If you are in Medicare Advantage, switch to another plan or return to Original Medicare once
Initial Enrollment Period 7 months around your 65th birthday month Sign up for Medicare and choose your first plan
Special Enrollment Periods Varies Change plans after events like moving, losing other coverage or your plan leaving your area

Most people make changes during Annual Enrollment. If you are happy with your current plan, you do not have to do anything; it renews automatically. Still, read your Annual Notice of Change, because premiums, copays, networks and drug lists can all change on January 1.

Special Needs Plans

Special Needs Plans (SNPs) are Medicare Advantage plans built for specific groups. Benefits, networks and drug lists are designed around the members they serve, and many include care coordinators. For 2027, Special Needs Plans are one of the few areas where large insurers are adding plans, even as they cut PPOs.

Type Who Qualifies What Is Different
Dual Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) People with both Medicare and Medicaid Coordinates both programs; often very low costs and added benefits
Chronic Condition SNP (C-SNP) People with qualifying conditions such as diabetes, heart failure or chronic lung disease Doctors, drugs and programs built around the condition
Institutional SNP (I-SNP) People living in a nursing home or who need that level of care at home Care delivered where the member lives

Turning 65 in 2027

If you turn 65 in 2027, your Initial Enrollment Period lasts seven months: the three months before your birthday month, your birthday month and the three months after. Signing up during the first three months means your coverage starts on the first day of your birthday month.

Turning 65 Checklist

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Sign up for Part A and Part B, unless you have qualifying employer coverage and choose to delay Part B

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Decide between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare with Medigap

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Join a drug plan, or a Medicare Advantage plan with drugs, to avoid a Part D late penalty

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If you choose Medigap, buy during your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period

Help Paying Medicare Costs

If your income and savings are limited, two programs can cut your Medicare costs sharply:

Medicare Savings Programs

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Run by your state Medicaid office

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Can pay your Part B premium, and sometimes deductibles and coinsurance

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Income and asset limits vary by state

Extra Help (Part D)

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Run by Social Security

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Lowers Part D premiums, deductibles and copays

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People in a Medicare Savings Program qualify automatically

Those who are eligible for Medicare along with full Medicaid might also have the option of enrolling in a Dual Special Needs Plan. Learn more about help for low-income Part D beneficiaries.

Free Medicare Help in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program, PA MEDI, offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE any time or compare plans with a licensed agent at no cost.

Free Help Comparing Plans

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Medicare Plan Finder on Medicare.gov, available any time

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1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24 hours a day, seven days a week

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Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which offers free, unbiased counseling

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A licensed insurance agent or broker, who can compare plans from several insurers at no cost to you

Before any call, have your Medicare card, your list of drugs and doses, your doctors and your preferred pharmacies ready. It turns a long conversation into a short one.

Bottom Line

The Bottom Line

Pennsylvania beneficiaries have Medicare Advantage, Medigap and Part D options to pick from in 2027. See what’s offered in your county and make your choice in the Annual Enrollment period, from October 15 to December 7, 2026.

Compare plans and enroll online

Frequently Asked Questions

➤ Is UPMC changing plans?

Yes, partly. UPMC for Life is continuing for 2027, but some of its plans are being discontinued while a new HMO Preferred Rx plan is added in Butler, Clarion and Westmoreland counties. Your Annual Notice of Change will show whether your own plan is affected.

➤ What if my Pennsylvania Medicare Advantage plan is ending?

You remain covered through December 31, 2026, and your insurer must send a non-renewal notice. Pennsylvanians in that spot get a Special Enrollment Period to choose another plan and a guaranteed issue right to buy certain Medigap plans, generally within 63 days after the old coverage ends.

➤ When can I change my Pennsylvania Medicare plan for 2027?

Pennsylvania follows the national calendar, so Annual Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7, 2026, with new coverage on January 1, 2027. If you are in Medicare Advantage, a second chance to make one change runs from January 1 to March 31, 2027.

➤ Is Highmark changing its Medicare Advantage plans in Pennsylvania for 2027?

No 2027 Highmark changes have been verified. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield serves western and northeastern Pennsylvania, while Highmark Blue Shield serves central and southeastern Pennsylvania, so read your Annual Notice of Change for the details of your specific plan.

➤ Is Geisinger Gold still available in Pennsylvania for 2027?

Geisinger Gold is continuing, with no verified 2027 change reported. Plan details, networks and costs can still shift from year to year, so check your Annual Notice of Change and confirm availability in your county.

➤ Where can I get free Medicare help in Pennsylvania?

PA MEDI, Pennsylvania’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program, offers free, unbiased counseling to people with Medicare. Counselors can walk you through Highmark, UPMC, Geisinger and national insurer plans offered in your county and help you weigh Medicare Advantage against Medigap.

➤ Are national insurers offering Medicare Advantage plans in Pennsylvania?

Availability varies by county. UnitedHealthcare, Humana and Aetna are each trimming some counties nationally for 2027, and county-level details for Pennsylvania should not be assumed, so confirm by ZIP code which national plans are still offered where you live.

➤ Do Pennsylvania Medicare Advantage plans include dental and vision?

Some may. Pennsylvania plans may include dental, vision, hearing or fitness extras, which Original Medicare does not cover on a routine basis, but not all plans offer all benefits and amounts differ. Check each plan’s Summary of Benefits before you choose.

➤ Can I switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap in Pennsylvania?

You can apply, but approval may not be automatic. Outside your Medigap Open Enrollment Period or a guaranteed issue right, insurers in most states can use health questions, so check Pennsylvania’s rules with PA MEDI before you drop a plan.

Have Questions?

Speak with a licensed insurance agent

1-855-398-0716

TTY users 711

Mon-Fri: 8am-9pm ET

Find & Compare Plans Online

Speak with a licensed insurance agent

1-855-398-0716TTY 711

Mon-Fri: 8am-9pm ET

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